Control means for marine engines and transmissions

Abstract

A marine vessel propulsion system includes one or more drive systems, each including an engine, an engine throttle, and a shiftable transmission. A control system for each drive system comprises a manually operable control lever assembly for electrically operating a servo assembly which mechanically operates the engine throttle and the transmission shifting clutches. The control lever assembly comprises a one-piece plastic support base which is adapted to pivotally support one or two identical one-piece plastic control levers. Components associated with a control lever are interchangeable and identical and include a potentiometer mechanically interconnected between the control lever and the base, a detent plate and a detent arm. The control lever assembly also comprises based-mounted components including a station selector switch, a mode selector switch, an electrical connector and a flexible circuit board for electrically connecting the potentiometer selector switches and electrical connector. The servo assembly comprises a plastic housing containing two identical servo units for mechanically operating the engine throttle and the transmission shifting clutches. Each servo unit comprises a support frame on which are mounted a reversible electric motor having a rotatable motor shaft, a rotatable link-drive shaft and a solenoid-operated clutch for connecting and disconnecting the motor shaft and the link-drive shaft. A potentiometer mechanically connected to the link-drive shaft is restrained from rotation by a clamp engaged with the motor housing.

We claim: 
     
       1. A control system for a marine vessel propulsion system having a movable engine throttle member and a movable transmission shift member, said control system comprising: a control lever assembly comprising a manually operable pivotally movable control lever and a potentiometer adjacent and mechanically connected to said control lever for providing electric signals in response to operation of said control lever;   a servo assembly comprising two servo units, one servo unit for effecting operation of said engine throttle member and the other servo unit for effecting operation of said transmission shift member;   means for mechanically connecting said one servo unit to said engine throttle member and for mechanically connecting said other servo unit to said transmission shift member;   and means for electrically connecting said potentiometer to both servo units to effect control of said engine throttle member and said transmission shift member.   
     
     
       2. A control system for a marine vessel propulsion system having two engine throttle members and two transmission shift members, said control system comprising: a control lever assembly comprising two manually operable pivotally movable control levers and two potentiometers adjacent and each potentiometer mechanically connected to a respective control lever for providing electric signals in response to operation of said respective control lever;   two servo assemblies, each servo assembly comprising two servo units, one servo unit for effecting operation of a respective engine throttle member and the other servo unit for effecting operation of a respective transmission shift member;   means for mechanically connecting one servo unit in one servo assembly to a respective engine throttle member and for mechanically connecting said other servo unit in said one servo assembly to a respective transmission shift member;   means for mechanically connecting one servo unit in the other servo assembly to a respective engine throttle member and for mechanically connecting said other servo unit in said other servo assembly to a respective transmission shift member;   and means for electrically connecting each potentiometer to both servo units in a respective servo assembly to effect control of one engine throttle member and one transmission shift member.   
     
     
       3. A control system for a marine vessel propulsion system having two movable engine throttle members and two transmission shift members, said control system comprising: two control lever assemblies, each control lever assembly comprising two manually operable pivotally movable control levers and two potentiometers adjacent and each potentiometer mechanically connected to a respective control lever for providing electric signals in response to operation of said respective control lever;   two servo assemblies, each servo assembly comprising two servo units, one servo unit for effecting operation of a respective engine throttle member and the other servo unit for effecting operation of a respective transmission shift member;   means for mechanically connecting one servo unit in one servo assembly to a respective engine throttle member and for mechanically connecting said other servo unit in said one servo assembly to a respective transmission shift member;   means for mechanically connecting one servo unit in the other servo assembly to a respective engine throttle member and for mechanically connecting said other servo unit in said other servo assembly to a respective transmission shift member;   and means for electrically connecting one potentiometer in each control lever assembly to both servo units in a respective servo assembly to effect control of one engine throttle member and one transmission shift member.   
     
     
       4. A control system according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 wherein each control lever assembly further comprises a support base on which at least one control lever is pivotally mounted and wherein the associated potentiometer is mechanically connected between said one control lever and said base. 
     
     
       5. A control system according to claim 4 wherein each control lever comprises a shaft and an arm extending transversely from said shaft; wherein each base comprises means for rotatably engaging the shafts of a plurality of control levers; and wherein each potentiometer comprises two relatively rotatable components, one component having an opening for receiving the shaft of an associated control lever being movable thereby and the other component being fixedly engaged with said base. 
     
     
       6. In a control lever assembly for providing electric signals, in combination: a base having a bore therein;   a potentiometer having a first component and a relatively movable second component, said second component having a bore therethrough;   a pivotally lever arm having a shaft extending transversly therefrom and disposed in said bores, said shaft being rotatably movable in the bore in said base but being non-rotatable in said bore in said second component;   and means for connecting said first component to said base to enable pivotal movement of said lever arm to effect rotation of said second component while said first component remains stationary.   
     
     
       7. A control lever assembly according to claim 6 wherein said base is provided with a hole which transversely intersects said bore in said base, wherein said shaft of said lever arm is provided with a groove in the periphery thereof which registers with the hole in said bate, and further comprising a member inserted in said hole in said base and in said groove to prevent axial movement of said shaft relative to said base. 
     
     
       8. A control lever assembly according to claim 6 or 7 further comprising: first detent means having a bore therethrough for receiving said shaft so that said first detent means is mounted on and rotatable with said shaft as said lever arm is pivotally moved;   and a second detent means mounted on said base and biased into engagement with said first detent means to releasably maintain said lever arm in a predetermined position.   
     
     
       9. In a servo unit for a servo assembly, in combination: a base;   a reversible electric motor having a motor housing mounted on said base and having a rotatable motor shaft;   a drive shaft rotatably mounted on said base;   means for selectively connecting and disconnecting said motor shaft from driving engagement with said drive shaft;   a potentiometer for providing electric signals indicative of the angular position of said drive shaft, said potentiometer comprising a potentiometer housing and a potentiometer shaft rotatable relative to said potentiometer housing;   means for connecting said potentiometer shaft to said drive shaft;   and means for fixedly securing said potentiometer housing to said servo unit to prevent rotation of said potentiometer housing as said potentiometer shaft rotates.   
     
     
       10. A servo unit according to claim 9 wherein said potentiometer further comprises a threaded mounting member fixed to said potentiometer housing and having a rotatable nut thereon, said potentiometer shaft extending through said mounting member, and wherein said means for fixedly securing said potentiometer housing comprises a resilient U-shaped wire having its closed end secured to said potentiometer housing by said nut and having its legs in resilient engagement with said motor housing which is disposed therebetween.